Overview of Nutritional Management of COVID-19 Patients During and Post Hospitalization Periods - a Case Study of Imperial Hospital Ltd, Chittagong

Abstract

Limited is a prominent quality healthcare service provider in Chittagong, the 2nd largest and important metropolitan city in Bangladesh. Based on some recent studies worldwide in regard to a fairly established relation between nutritional management of COVID-19 patients and rate of recovery, a case study on patients of this hospital was undertaken to explore, understand and screen the nutritional management of COVID-19 patients hospitalized during November 2020 to April 2021 with various symptoms and co-morbidities during hospitalization period and the post hospitalization home care. Hospital records and discharge sheets have been utilized as secondary data while face to face interviews of some nutritionists and health care providers have been recorded and analyzed as primary sources of investigation. Admitted COVID-19 patients are categorized into 4 different zones IUC, Red, Yellow and Green zones respectively depending on their physical condition and severity of the symptoms. Nutritional management of IUC patients are mainly advised by the unit specialist physician in consolation with the chief dietitian and mostly NGF. Patients in Red and Yellow zones are the core patients who receive intensive nutritional care with a case specific diet including therapeutic supplement considering the severity of the symptoms and more specifically the pathological condition as well as co-morbidity. Most challenging nutritional management is found in patients with diabetes (carbohydrates withdrawn) and renal impairment (protein withdrawn) in the lunch. On the other hand patients in the green zone are mostly treated with a high protein and high mineral diet as they have mild to moderate symptoms. There are several cases where nutritional management accelerated the rate of recovery of some critically ill patients. Patients with severe gut linkage have been treated with BRAT Diet, a special menu consisting of bread, apple puree or juice, raw banana curry and rice cakes. A special type of drink called Anti Inflammatory Drink was administered to patients in the Red and Yellow zone, 250 lm in each serve twice daily. A special type of Turmeric drink was recommended for patients in post hospitalization homestay 330lm before bed. Post COVID patients are also advised to have high protein and high mineral diets with Vitamin-C and Zinc supplements in pharmaceutical form. As observed in the study along with supported data, overall patient’s management is a great success in this hospital with some innovative nutritional intervention in the dietary care of the patients. It is also recommended that other hospitals can test and practice the same nutritional management from the lesson learned in this study of Imperial Hospital Ltd.